LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Joe Kelly #56 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning during Game 5 of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Dodgers Reportedly Agree to Three-Year Deal with Joe Kelly

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Joe Kelly #56 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning during Game 5 of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have their first big signing of the offseason and it’s a reliever.

Kelly has some history with the Dodgers that dates back to 2013 when he broke Hanley Ramirez’s rib with an errant pitch in the NLCS. Then he was lights out this past season in the World Series, where he appeared in all five games and struck out 10 in six scoreless innings.

All in all, the right-hander allowed just two runs (one earned) in 11.1 innings this postseason, striking out 13 and walking none.

It’s a stray from the norm for Andrew Friedman, who is known for building bullpens for cheap. Other than Kenley Jansen, no other full-time reliever made more than $3M last season.

Kelly did have his struggles in 2018 though. He finished with a 4.39 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 68 strikeouts and 32 walks in 73 appearances (65.2 innings). Before his mighty October, the 30-year-old had an 8.31 ERA in the month of September.

Assuming he pitches more like he did in the postseason, Kelly will be a valuable weapon in the later innings. He’s a very solid candidate to be Jansen’s setup man.